- AFRINIC voided its board election over a single proxy dispute, discarding all votes and fuelling governance concerns.
- Observers warn that failed election standards threaten Africa’s IP future and damage trust in internet governance institutions.
AFRINIC discards valid votes after proxy challenge
In June 2025, AFRINIC—the African Network Information Centre—cancelled its board election after a single disputed proxy vote, throwing out all ballots and halting the process entirely. The move has triggered sharp criticism across the African internet community, with many calling it the final sign of AFRINIC’s unworkable election standards and governance collapse.
This is the latest in a string of election failures, delays, and disputes within AFRINIC. The registry, once responsible for managing Africa’s IP resources, now stands accused of using opaque technicalities to obstruct democratic outcomes. Trust in the body’s ability to serve its members is eroding fast.
Also read: AFRINIC launches voter onboarding ahead of board election
Also read: AFRINIC election: 2nd attempt to delay voting fails
Governance failure threatens Africa’s digital future
The decision to cancel an entire election based on one proxy dispute shows how easily democratic processes can be derailed in internet governance bodies. For AFRINIC, this move reflects a deeper pattern: institutional failure, eroded transparency, and growing internal obstructionism.
As AFRINIC loses legitimacy, pressure is mounting on global internet authorities like ICANN and the NRO to intervene and replace the failed registry. Cloud Innovation, AFRINIC’s third-largest member, has already called for its dissolution.
The broader issue is clear: when tech institutions allow procedural loopholes to overrule legitimate member participation, the entire model of bottom-up governance comes into question. If accountability isn’t restored, Africa’s digital infrastructure and IP resource management could be left in disarray.
